The first test lost, a sledging row, the departure of one of England’s key men, and a batting line up that looks incapable at present of scoring runs. It is fair to say that the Ashes has started somewhat auspiciously for England.

To the issue of Jonathan Trott. There is no question his departure is a huge loss to this England team; he is a genuine world class batsman. Form is temporary, after all. And although his form hasn’t been anywhere near his best in recent months, the same could be said of most of England’s batsmen.

It is not anyone’s role to play amateur psychologist. Stress or depression are deeply personal conditions that effect everyone in entirely different ways. All anyone can do is wish Trott all the best and a speedy recovery – which happily, everyone has. The far harder task falls to England to replace him. Who bats at number three? Who comes into the eleven in the middle order? These are two huge questions, questions you’d rather not be asking 1-0 down in an Ashes series in Australia.

But they must be answered nonetheless. As to who bats at three, there are two candidates: Ian Bell and Joe Root. There are good reasons for either to bat there: Joe Root is an opener by trade so is at home at the top of the order, whereas Bell has batted there before, and the last time he did he scored a quite magnificent double century against India. But Bell has a better average at number five, shouldn’t England protect him? But number three is where England’s best batsman should bat, isn’t that Ian Bell? Decisions, decisions.

Here’s the reasoning as to why Root should bat at three: why move Bell from a position he’s performing the best cricket of his career in, a position that, because of the way the new ball deteriorates rapidly after thirty overs in Australia, he can do optimum damage? Root looks a tad lost all the way down the order, and is a natural opener. Problem solved… maybe.

There’s also still the issue of who should come into the team at Trott’s expense, although this looks like a far more straightforward choice given the tour match in Alice Springs at the weekend. A good knock of 55 from 134 balls has seen Gary Ballance as hot favourite to come into the side. Jonny Bairstow didn’t deliver in the summer and seems to have found/been put in his role as back up wicket keeper to Matt Prior, and while Ben Stokes has talent with the bat and can bowl well, England more than anything need a consistent batsman, which is not what Stokes offers.

England were so far off the pace in Brisbane it was borderline embarrassing. Adelaide must offer something different. The batsmen must deliver. England scored half the amount of runs that the Aussies did in the first test and simply put, it is not good enough. Some big, big questions have been asked of this England outfit, it’s time for them to be answered.

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